Mobile unit having power operated means mounted in a torque tube



March 1, 1966 HEYL, JR 3,237,959

R. G. MOBILE UNIT HAVING POWER OPERATED MEANS MOUNTED IN A TORQUE TUBE Filed April 13, 1963 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR.

March 1, 1966 R G HEYL, JR 3,237,959

MOBILE UNIT niwxile POWER OPERATED MEANS MOUNTED IN A TORQUE TUBE Filed April 13, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNE 6' March I, 1966 G HEYL, JR 3,237,959

R. MOBILE UNIT HAVING POWER OPERATED MEANS MOUNTED IN A TORQUE TUBE Filed April 13. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

March 1, 1966 R. G. HEYL, JR 3,237,959 MOBILE UNIT HAVING POWER OPERATED MEANS MOUNTED IN A TORQUE TUBE Flled Aprll 13, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v I INVENTOR. @ije// 'X v J.

United States Patent 3,237,959 MGBILE UNIT HAVING POWER OPERATED MEANS MGUNTED EN A TORQUE TUBE Russell G. Heyl, Jr., Birmingham, Mich, assignor to American Metal Products (Iompany, Detroit, Mich, a

corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 187,430 8 Claims. (Cl. 28043.23)

This invention pertains to a readily transportable or mobile vehicular unit and, in particular, to an entirely self-contained mobile trailer-like unit adapted to be read ily transported from one place of installation to another and to form a transportable housing for various activities such as automatic vending machines, washing and drying machines, health, inoculation and rescue centers, rest rooms, repair shops, radio and TV broadcast stations, test laboratories and the like.

While the present invention may be employed for various and sundry purposes as alluded to above, and as will become more readily apparent hereinafter, it was conceived and developed with particular reference to providing a mobile vending unit easily and quickly transportable from one place of installation to another for the purpose of vending and dispensing food, drinks and related items as demand or other requirements dictate. Therefore, the comments and description which follow will have particular and specific reference to the features and advantages of such a mobile unit utilized in the vending application as aforementioned in order to illustrate the invention, it being understood, of course, that the mobile unit may be utilized for other purposes such as aforementioned, as well as others.

It is, therefore, a principal object and feature of this invention to provide an improved mobile unit of the type aforementioned which is of compact construction to facilitate transportation thereof from one site to another, and which may be readily set up or erected from said compact condition to an open construction at any given site where its use is demanded, and readily returned to its compact roadable condition when it is desired to transport the unit to another location.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a mobile unit including a body member as aforementioned operatively mounted on wheel means for transporting the unit, and means vertically adjustably mounting the body member relative to the wheel means and the ground whereby the body member may be lowered into a ground-engaging position at any given installation site for the unit and the aforementioned closure members opened to provide access to the interior of the body member through the aforementioned access openings, one of the closure members forming a ramp-like ambulatory access passage from ground level to the interior of the body member at the access openings and the other closure member forming a roof for protecting any one approaching the access opening along the ramp-like member.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide a mobile unit including a body member operatively mounted on a chassis member which includes wheel means for transporting the unit and a generally centrally located longitudinally extending torque tube means or box between such wheel means, and means controlling raising and lowering movement of the body member relative to the wheel means including a power operated or motor means carried within said torque tube means or box.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention to provide, in accordance with one preferred embodiment thereof, a mobile unit of the type aforementioned Patented Mar. 1, 1956 further characterized by a single hydraulically operated jack of the type comprising relatively reciprocable piston and cylinder elements mounted within the torque tube means or box of the aforementioned chassis member and operatively connected through a pair of distinct linkage systems to opposite ends of the body member to control raising and lowering movement thereof relative to the chassis member, the body member incuding a floor section including a central longitudinally extending upstanding transom disposed opposite and adapted to receive the aforementioned torque tube means or box upon lowering the body member relative to the chassis member and the wheel means thereon.

It is yet another object and feature of this invention, according to another embodiment thereof, to provide a mobile unit of the type aforementioned in which the body member is operatively rigidly secured to the chassis member and the wheel means are mounted for vertical swinging movement relative to the body and chassis members by means of pivotally mounted suspension control arms, and further comprising longitudinally extending torsion bars or rods extending between and connected to the suspension arms on each side of the unit on the axis of pivotal movement thereof, and motor means mounted within the torque tube means or box of the chassis member and connected by a pair of distinct linkage systems to each of the torsion bar means to control operation of the latter and raising and lowering movement of the body and chassis members in unison relative to the wheel means.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter as the description of the invention proceeds, and in which reference is made to the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a mobile unit constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing the unit in the condition it assumes for transportation thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- URE 1, but showing the unit installed at ground level in a given location;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the unit illustrated in FIGURE 1, but with the body member of the unit shown in dotted lines to illustrate certain details of the chassis member of the unit; and

FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding generally to FIG- URE 5, but illustrating another embodiment of the invention pertaining particularly to the means for controlling raising and lowering movement of the body member relative to the ground.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 5 of the drawings and one preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral ill generally indicates a mobile unit comprising a body member indicated generally at 12 and a chassis member indicated generally at 14. The body member 12 comprises a roof 16 and, spaced oppositely therefrom, a floor means comprising the end floor sections 18 and a lower central floor section 20 therebetween and suitably operatively rigid secured thereto. The central floor section includes an upstanding centrally located longitudinally extending transom 22 of generally inverted U-shaped configuration for a purpose to appear more fully hereinafter. As will be readily apparent from the drawings, the roof 16 and the floor means comprising the floor sections 18 and 20 extend substantially the full length of the body member, and are suitably rigidly connected at their opposite ends to the end walls 24. Oppositely spaced side wall members each including upper and lower portions 26 and 28 suitably rigidly interconnect the roof 16 and the respective end floor sections 18 and end walls 24 at each end of the body member, and extend between the roof and the lower edges of the end walls 24 which are contained in substantially the same horizontal plane as the lower central fioor section 20. Furthermore, it will be noted particularly from FIGURE 4 that the lower portion 28 of each of the side wall members extends laterally outwardly from the upper portion 26 thereof so as to form a shelf of ledge 30 on each side and at opposite ends of the body member.

The respective end floor sections 18 cooperate with the upper portions 26 of the side wall members and an upper portion of the end wall members 24 to form a substantially enclosed utility compartment 32 at each end of the body member 12. FIGURE 2 illustrates such compartments as enclosing various elements such as, for example, a motor-generator unit 34, a heating unit 36, sink unit 38, refrigerator or freezing unit and laterally projectible shelving units 42. A trash container 44 is indicated in dotted lines in FIGURES l and 2 as being disposed in the lower portions 28 of the side wall members at one end of the body member so as to have its open upward end communicating with a ledge or shelf 30. Each of the utility compartments includes utility openings communicating therewith through each of the side wall members aforementioned. Thus, the utility compartment 32 at one end of the body member, or to the left in FIG- URES 1 and 2, is of two part construction, one part including a utility openings on each side thereof adapted to be closed by a pair of hinged swingable doors indicated at 46 swingable toward and away from each other for access to the refrigerating or freeze unit 40 as well as the shelving units 42, while a single door closure 48 is similarly hinged to close a utility opening on each side of the body member to the motor-generator, heating and sink units. The shelving units 42 at the other end of the body member communicate with utility openings on each side of the body member which, in this instance, are not provided with cooperating doors as described above. Finally, and referring particularly to FIGURE 2, the aforedescribed side wall members at each end of the body member 12 define access openings 50 to the interior thereof between the roof 16 and central floor section 20.

A combined roof and closure member is indicated at 52 and has one edge thereof suitably hingedly connected adjacent the roof 16 as indicated at 54 on each side of body member 12 so as to be movable between a closure position as illustrated in FIGURE 1 and a raised position as illustrated in FIGURES 2 through 4 forming a rooflike canopy on each side of the body member of the unit. An elongate relatively narrow flap 56 which is substantially coextensive with the roof and closure member 52, and is hinged as indictaed at 58 in FIGURE 4 intermediate its side edges to the other end of each of the combined roof and closure members 52 so as to be capable of articulation into the position illustrated in FIG- URES 2 and 4 to form an advertising sign upon installing the body member at a given site, and also to form a sealing member with the roof and closure member 52 in the closure position of FIGURE 1 and as will appear more fully hereinafter. Means such as rods 60 extending from the ground may be utilized to prop the roof and closure members 52 in their roof-forming positions. It will be noted that the combined roof and closure members are substantially coextensive with the length of the body member 12 and particularly the roof 16 thereof so that, in the closure position as illustrated in FIGURE 1, they extend substantially the full length of the body member and form a closure over the doors 46 and 48 at one end of the body member and directly over the utility openings and shelving units 42 therein in the compartment at the other end thereof. It will also be noted that the central portion of the combined roof and closure members 52 forms a portion of a closure for the central access openings 50 in the body member 12 between the utility compartments 32, and that in its closure position the edge thereof adjacent the pivotal connection 58 of the flap member 56 nests on the ledges or shelves 30 joining the upper and lower portions 26 and 28 of each of the side wall members as aforedescribed.

A combine-d closure and ramp member 62 is suitably hingedly connected to each side of the body member 12 as indicated at 64 in FIGURE 4 adjacent the lower central floor section 20 thereof. Each closure and ramp member is adapted to be swung to the closure position illustrated in FIGURE 1 in which the other end thereof mates with the central portion of the combined roof and closure member 52 to form a closure for the lower portion of the access opening 50 in each side of the body member 12. In such position, the flap member 56 extends between the juncture of the mating edges of the combined roof and closure member 52 and combined closure and ram member 62 to form a seal. Each ramp and closure member may also be swung downwardly to the positions illustrated particularly in FIGURE 4 to provide an ambulatory access up to the access opening 50 and central floor section 20 of the body member on either side of the mobile unit.

A pair of end flaps 66 have their upper ends suitably hingedly connected as indicated at 68 in FIGURE 2 at respective ends of the body member 12 adjacent roof 16 so as to have a transporting position normally substantially abutting the end walls 24, but being movable outwardly to the positions illustrated particularly in FIG- URES 2 and 3 to form additional roof structures to protect users or customers of the mobile unit. Again, means such as rods 70 are adapted to be interposed between the end flaps 66 and the ground to hold them in their roofforming positions upon installation of the unit in any given location, and may be readily removed to drop the aforementioned flaps into the closed position as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Perhaps needless to mention, suitable means may be provided for latching the end flaps 66 in the positions illustrated in FIGURE 1, and likewise for latching the closure members 52 and 62 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 during transportation of the mobile unit.

A plurality of vending machines of the automatic variety are illustrated schematically at 74 as being aligned and in substantially abutting side-by-side engagement with each other and respective sides of the transom 22, and resting on the lower central floor section 20. Furthermore, the vending machines extend substantially entirely between the utility compartments 32 to fill the access openings 50 on each side of the body member. However, it will be readily apparent that other arrangements of the vending machines on either side of the transom member 22 may be made.

The chassis member 14 includes a central longitudinally extending rectangular torque tube or box 76 rigidly connected at opposite ends thereof to chassis frame members each including a transversely extending frame member 78 and a pair of longitudinally extending spaced rails 80 on which an axle 82 supporting the road wheels 84 may be'mounted or suspended in any desired and suitable manner. It will be noted particularly from FIGURE 4, that the torque tube or box 76 is embraced by the side walls of the transom 22.

A single fluid pressure operated jack 86 of the type comprising relatively reciprocable piston rod and cylinder elements 88 and 90, respectively, is mounted within the torque tube box 76 with the cylinder element suitably secured thereto. A main drive lever 92 is fixed to a shaft 94 suitably mounted for oscillation between horizontally spaced side walls of the torque tube box, and one end thereof is suitably pivotally connected to the piston rod 88 as indicated at 96. A pair of link members 98 and 100, respectively, each have one end pivotally connected to one end of the main drive lever 92 adjacent or aligned with the pivotal connection 96 of the piston rod and the opposite end of the main drive lever as indicated at 1112. These respective links extend in opposite directions longitudinally of the torque tube box 76 and are respectively pivotally connected to arm members 104- suitably rigidly secured to respective transversely extending rock shafts 106 suitably oscill-atably mounted on the transversely extending frame member 78 of the chassis. A height-adjusting crank arm 108 has one end thereof suitably rigidly secured to opposite ends of each of the rock shafts 1116, and mounts a rotatable crank pin 110 at the other end thereof received within a horizontally elongate slot 112 in a bracket 114 suitably rigidly secured to the respective lower portions 28 of each of the side wall members of the body member 12. It will be understood that a suitable fluid system including selector valve means is provided to control operation of the jack 86 and the raising and lowering of the body member 12 relative to the chassis member 14 between the positions illustrated in FIGURES l and 2.

As will now be apparent, the mobile unit is adapted to be towed by a suitable prime mover to a given location for installation, and the fluid pressure operated jack operated to drop the body member 12 relative to the chassis member 14 so as to engage the ground or the surface on which the unit is mounted. In this regard, to drop the body member as aforementioned, the fluid pressure operated jack is operated so as to extend, thereby oscillating the main drive lever 92 counterclockwise in FIGURE 5 resulting in the respective link members 98 and 1M oscillating the rock shafts connected thereto in opposite directions to cause the crank pins 110 to move within their cooperating slots 112 in the brackets 114 toward the respective ends of the body member. As a result, the body member 12 is dropped to the ground with the transom 22 receiving the torque tube box 76 therewithin. Thereafter, the combined roof and closure members 52 and the combined ramp and closure members 62 may be moved to the positions illustrated particularly in FIG- URE 4 to provide access to the vending machines 74 mounted on a central floor section 20 of the body member. At the same time, the end flaps and roof-forming members 66 may also be elevated to positions illustrated particularly in FIGURE 2. Thus, customers for the vending machines find ready access thereto from either side of the mobile unit, and are protected from the elements while using such machines by the closure members 52, and they may move from the vending machines under the end roofs 66 while consuming their purchases, Refuse may be deposited within the trash containers 44. Should it be desired to service the vending machines or to re move them, this may be readily accomplished due to the substantially ground level location thereof with the unit lowered. Furthermore, the unit may be installed in practically any otherwise feasible location since it contains its own utilities. When it is desired to transport the mobile unit to another location, the rods 61 and 70 are quickly and easily removed to lower the various flaps and closure members aforedescribed, the fluid pressure operated jack 86 operated so as to retract same and operate the linkage connected thereto in a direction reverse to that previously described to elevate the body member relative to the chassis member, and the unit may then be towed to its new location. In this regard, it will be noted that, with the closure members 52 and 62 in the positions of FIGURE 1 for towing of the unit, the closure member 52 nests along the ledges or shelves 3% and that such closure member conceals and protects the upper side wall portions 26 forming a part of the utility compartments 32 and, particularly in this regard, prevents the shelving units 42 stored in the utility compartment at the right in FIGURE 2 from being thrown out during movement of the unit. Furthermore, the central portion of the combined roof and closure member 52 cooperates with the combined ramp and closure member 62 to form a complete closure for the access openingsSt) on each side of the body member 12, and completely encloses and conceals the vending unit 74 and interior of the body member from view. Again, it will be noted that the flap member 56 forms a seal between the junctures of the aforementioned closure members in their closed position of FIGURE 1. Hence, the entire body member may be easily and quickly closed up and elevated relative to the chassis member and its wheels for towing the unit to a subsequent location.

Reference will now be made to FIGURE 6 illustrating another preferred embodiment of a mobile unit constructed in accordance with this invention and indicated generally at 116. The body member of this embodiment of the mobile unit is substantially identical to that previously described and, accordingly, is indicated by the reference numeral 12, it being understood that the body member illustrated in FIGURE 6 is to be taken as including the various utility compartments, wall members, closure members, end flaps and other such details previously described and except as otherwise noted. However, the chassis member indicated generally at 118 in FIGURE 6 differs from that previously described in comprising a longitudinally extending substantially rectangular torque tube means or box 120, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced laterally projecting outrigger arms 122 having their inner ends suitably rigidly secured to the torque tube box and their outer ends secured to sill members 124 rigidly secured to the body member 21 along the lower side edges thereof as clearly illustrated in FIGURE 6. Thus, unlike the previous embodiment, the body member 12 and chassis member 118 are rigidly interconnected. A pair of front and rear wheel means 126 and 128, respectively, are adapted to be mounted at each end of the chassis member 113 by independent suspension mechanisms each comprising upper and lower control arms 130 and 132, respectively, each having their inner ends suitably pivotally connected as indicated at 134 and 136, respectively, to the chassis member and extending laterally therefrom for pivotal connection as indicated at 138 to a king pin mechanism 144} rotatably mounting the respective road wheels. As will be readily apparent such suspension mechanism is of conventional construction as well as the steering linkage indicated generally at 142 for the front wheels 126 and, consequently, further description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary.

A longitudinally extending torsion bar or rod 144 is provided on each side of the torque tube means or box 120, and each such torsion bar or rod has its opposite ends fixedly secured to the lower control arms 132 at the front and rear of the chassis member and on each side thereof on the axis 136 of pivotal movement thereof, and is rotatably supported in the various outrigger arms 122. Viewing the mobile unit from the left end in FIGURE 6, it will be seen that winding the left and right torsion rods counterclockwise and clockwise, respectively, will cause the respective lower control arms 132 to move vertically downwardly with respect to the ground to lift the body member and chassis member as a unit upwardly relative to the road wheels and ground, and vice versa. In order to control operation of the respective torsion bars or rods, there is provided a reversible electric motor means 146 including suitable gear reduction means enclosed Within housing 14-8 all of which is suitably mounted within the torque tube means or box 120. The output shaft 150 of the motor means is secured to a main drive lever 152 intermediate the ends of the latter, while a pair of link members 154 each have one end pivotally connected as indicated at 156 to opposite ends of the main drive lever and extend outwardly through openings in the side walls of the torque tube box for pivotal connection as indicated at 158 to arm members 16) having their other ends rigidly secured to the respective torsion bars or rods 144. Thus, operation of the reversible electric motor means controls winding or rotation of the respective torsion bars or rods in opposite directions relative to each other to control raising and lowering movement of the body member and chassis member as a unit relative to the road wheels, and also provides atorsion spring suspension for the unit.

As will now be apparent, the mobile unit of this second embodiment is adapted to be towed by a suitable prime mover to a given location for installation as is the case with the first embodiment aforedescribed. Upon reaching the desired location, the reversible electric motor means 146 is operated to cause the respective torsion bars or rods 144 to rotate in a direction causing the respective lower control arms 132 connected thereto to swing vertically upwardly relative to the body member 12 and chassis member 118. As a consequence, the body and chassis members are lowered as a unit into engagement with the ground or the position illustrated in FIG- URE 2 in connection with the previously described embodiment. Conversely, the reversible electric motor means may be operated in a reverse direction to swing the lower control arms 132 downwardly relative to the ground to bodily lift the body member and chassis member as a unit relative to the wheels and up from the ground to the roadable condition illustrated in FIGURE 1 in connection with the previously described embodiment. Naturally, the body member 12 may be assembled or erected upon lowering the body member to the ground, and reassembled for raising the body member and chassis to the roadable position as previously described. With the mobile unit in the raised roadable position, the torsion bars or rods 144 provide a torsion spring suspension for the unit.

While but two forms of the invention have been shown and described, other forms will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings are merely for illustrative purposes, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims which follow:

I claim:

1. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member, a chassis member including longitudinally extending torque tube means, Wheel means mounted upon said chassis member for transporting said unit, power operated means mounted in said torque tube means, and means including linkage means exteriorily of said torque tube means operatively connecting said power operated means to said body member to control raising and lowering movement thereof relative to said wheel means.

2. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member, a chassis member including longitudinally extending torque tube means, wheel means mounted on said chassis member for transporting said unit, power operated means mounted in said torque tube means, main drive lever means operatively connected to the output from said operated means, and a pair of separate linkage means exteriorly of said torque tube means respectively operatively connected between said main drive lever means and opposite portions of said body member to control raising and lowering movement thereof relative to said wheel means.

3. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member, a chassis member including longitudinally extending torque tube means, wheel means mounted on said chassis member for transporting said unit, power operated means mounted in said torque tube means, main drive lever means operatively connected to the output from said power operated means within said torque tube means, and a pair of separate linkage means respectively operatively connected between opposite ends of said main drive lever means and opposite portions of said body member exteriorly of said torque tube means to control raising and lowering movement of said body member relative to said wheel means.

4. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member, a chassis member including longitudinally extending torque tube means, wheel means mounted on said chassis member for transporting said unit, first and second linkage means operatively connected between opposite portions of said body member exteriorly of said torque tube means, and power operated means mounted in said torque tube means and operatively connected to said first and second linkage means to control raising and lowering movement of said body member relatively to said wheel means.

5. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member, a chassis member including longitudinally extending torque tube means, wheel means mounted on said chassis member for transporting said unit, first and second link age means operatively connected between opposite portions of said body member exteriorly of said torque tube means, and power operated means including main drive lever means mounted in said torque tube means, said main drive lever means being operatively connected to said first and second linkage means to control raising and lowering movement of said body member relative to said wheel means.

6. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member, a chassis member including torque tube means extending between and connecting opposite ends thereof, wheel means respectively mounted on said opposite ends of said chassis member for transporting said unit, a pair of rock shafts respectively oscillatably mounted transversely of said chassis member longitudinally beyond each end of said torque tube means, a crank arm including a crank pin secured to each end of each rock shaft, a plurality of bracket means secured to said body member and each including an elongate slot receiving a respective one of said crank pins, power operated means mounted within said torque tube means, a main drive lever pivotally mounted within said torque tube means and connected to said power operated means, and a pair of linkage means each having one end operatively connected to said main drive lever and extending in opposite directions longitudinally through said torque tube means and being connected to said rock shafts to control oscillation of the latter and raising and lowering movement of said body member relative to said chassis member.

7. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member including floor means having an upstanding longitudinally extending transom, a chassis member including torque tube means extending between and connecting opposite ends thereof, wheel means respectively mounted on said opposite ends of said chassis member for transporting said unit, a pair of rock shafts respectively oscillatably mounted transversely of said chassis member longitudinally beyond each end of said torque tube means, a crank arm including a crank pin secured to each end of each rock shaft, a plurality of bracket means secured to said body member and each including an elongate slot receiving a respective one of said crank pins, power operated means mounted within said torque tube means, a main drive lever pivotally mounted within said torque tube means and connected to said power operated means, and a pair of linkage means each having one end operatively connected to said main drive lever and extending in opposite directions longitudinally through said torque tube means and being connected to said rock shafts to control oscillation of the latter and raising and lowering movement of said body member relative to said chassis member, said transom being disposed opposite and adapted to receive said torque tube means upon lowering of said body member.

8. A mobile vehicular unit comprising a body member, a chassis member including torque tube means extending between and connecting opposite ends thereof, wheel means respectively mounted on said opposite ends of said chassis member for transporting said unit, a pair of suspension arms respectively pivotally mounted for vertical swinging movement on each end portion of said chassis member on opposite sides of said body member, Wheel means supported on each of said suspension arms, a pair of torsion bars extending longitudinally between and respectively secured to one of each pair of said suspension arms on the pivotal axis of the latter, motor means mounted within said torque tube means intermediate the opposite ends of said chassis member, a main drive lever connected to the output of said motor means within said torque tube means, .a pair of linkage means each having one end operatively connected to said main drive lever and extending in opposite directions transversely of and through said torque tube means and being respectively connected to said torsion bars to control movement of the latter and raising and lowering of said chassis member relative to said wheel means, and means UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,890,361 12/1932 Beatt ie 280-43.21 1,937,062 11/1933 Kellett 2542.2 2,251,698 8/1941 Willson.

2,421,351 5/1947 Page.

3,091,476 5/1963 Blake 28043.13

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

PHILIP ARNOLD, Examiner. 

1. A MOBILE VEHICULAR UNIT COMPRISING A BODY MEMBER, A CHASSIS MEMBER INCLUDING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING TORQUE TUBE MEANS, WHEEL MEANS MOUNTED UPON SAID CHASSIS MEMBER FOR TRANSPORTING SAID UNIT, POWER OPERATED MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID TORQUE TUBE MEANS, AND MEANS INCLUDING LINKAGE MEANS EXTERIORILY OF SAID TORQUE TUBE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID POWER OPERATED 